How to Create an Infographic Resume

How to Create an Infographic Resume

How to create an infographic resume to differentiate your job search

With the economy as unstable as it is, it seems as if finding work in this day and age is more difficult now than ever before. Sadly there are countless individuals out of work for a whole variety of different reasons, which means that landing a job is harder than ever, especially as you are having to fight off such stiff competition.

One proven method of helping to stack the odds in your favor in a job search is to ensure you have a professional and eye-catching resume. Generic resumes are a dime a dozen nowadays, which is why more and more people are trying their hands at creating an infographic resume instead. Infographics have a primary purpose of consolidating large quantities of information in easy-to-read, insightful, interesting, and eye-catching ways.

If you take the basic principles associated with creating an infographic, you can make a few tweaks here and there, and can actually use them to create an infographic resume that will help you to stand out against other candidates applying for the same position as you.

Here are some useful tips to help you create your own infographic resume.

Plan – Before you consider creating an infographic resume, you should first take the time to consider whether an infographic resume is suitable for the job you are applying for. All businesses are different, which means that some may appreciate an infographic, whereas others may not. You also need to plan what to put into the resume. Obviously you will need to include education and qualifications, as well as previous employment history, character traits, and any other information that you may deem relevant.

Use the right colors – Color is very important when it comes to infographics, as the idea is to create an eye-catching design that stands out and looks professional and attractive. Avoid dark colors and instead go with medium or light colors and shades. Then, add one bolder color to highlight key points.

Take a practice run or two – If you’ve never made an infographic before, before you even consider making one and sending it to a potential employer, take the time to familiarize yourself with various pieces of online graphic design software, and create a few practice infographics as drafts.

Know your basic design principles – Some people have more of an eye for graphic design than others, but with the right knowledge, anybody can familiarize themselves with basic principles. With an infographic, you want to keep the message short and simple, and basically say what you want to say, as simply as you possibly can. Don’t try to get too fancy, and don’t try to include too much information.

Know what you should include – On top of learning the basics, you should also do your research and find out what you should ideally be including in your resume. A good quality image of yourself is important, as well as making sure to include statistics, quotes, and previous experience and employment. You should try to present this information as a basic timeline so your potential employers know exactly what you have done and achieved, and in which order. You can also use visual elements, such as photos, stats, mentions or quotes, headlines and company logos.

Consider sending both an infographic resume as well as a regular resume – If you aren’t sure whether a job opening would require an infographic resume or a conventional resume, why not send both?

Jobs in the graphic design field, or jobs which may be looking for individuals with an artistic flair, may very well appreciate the inclusion of an infographic. What’s more, in these situations, not only are you including your resume, you are also demonstrating your skills with graphic design and computing software.